Chart A Faithful Course (1 Timothy 6)
Like a good mariner, we must be careful the course we set in life.
Chart A Faithful Course (1 Timothy 6)
Like a good mariner, we must be careful the course we set in life.
- Dangers to Avoid (v3-5) – as there were mythological sirens, so there are theological sirens that draw men after themselves unto destruction. We must withdraw from those who do not teach sound doctrine (v3), are arrogant (v4), and corrupt (v5).
- Ports to Pass (v6-11a) – there are things that will keep us from reaching our desired destination. For the Christian some ports that we must navigate around include: discontentment (v6-8), which focuses on what we don’t have rather than what we do; love of money (v9-10a), which becomes the god and goal of some; and apostasy (v10), an abandonment of the faith.
- A Channel to Follow (v11-12) – Just as there are things to avoid, there is a path that should be followed, a known, safe course (John 14:6). We should seek to continue in the way God approved (Col. 3:17; Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Pet. 1:5-7) that makes us more like Him (Eph. 5:1). This path, must be com-pleted whose end is eternal life (1 Pet. 1:3, 9; 2 Pet. 1:10-11).
- A Standard by Which to Navigate (v13-16) – As the stars, compass, or GPS give a standard by which to navigate, so too we have a standard set before us (Col. 3:1-2; Heb. 12:1-2).
- A Treasure to Guard (v17-21) – We are to trust in God, not the uncertain riches of this world (v17); to seek an eternal rather than temporal treasure (v18-19); and to care for that which is entrusted into our care as a faithful steward. (v20-21). All the “treasure” in the world can’t compare to such a one’s eternal reward (2 Tim. 4:8)!
